Africa. 97 
liowever confufed a one, of the exiftence of a 
deity. I do not know whether it be from 
their own refledion, or the communications 
of other tribes, that they have acquired this 
fublime knowledge, which would alone bring 
them near to a level with poliihed nations; 
but they believe, as far as I have been able 
to learn from my people, that beyond the 
ftars there exifts a fupreme being, who made 
and who governs all things. 
I muft hoxvever obferve, that on this fub- 
jed; their ideas are vague, barren, and unpro- 
dudive. They have no conception of the 
future exiftence of the foul, or of rewards and 
punifhments in another life ; in fhort, they 
have neither worlhip, facrifices, ceremonies, 
nor priefts, and are total ftrangers to what we 
call religion. 
1 am well aware, that Kolben advances a 
very different opinion 'refpeding thefe Afri- 
cans ; but I have already given my fentiments 
of that author. I will however acknow- 
ledge, that Kolben does not always deviate 
from the truth, and that his falfehoods even 
are founded upon fads, which he has wilfully 
Vol. hi. H mifre- 
